Circuitous elevator



I Aug. 21, 1934.

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ATTORNEY H. D. JAMES ET AL Aug. 21, 1934.

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CIRCUITOUS ELEVATOR Filed May 6, 1951 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 WITNESSES: HINYENTJQRS. '&

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V AATTORNEY Patented Aug. 21, 1934 PATENT? OFFICE CIRCUITOUS ELEVATORHenry D. James, Edgewood, and Harold E.

White, W liinsburg, Pa, assignors to Westinghouse Electric andManufacturing Company, a corporation of Pennsylvania Application May 6,1931, Serial No. 535,454

12 Claims.

Our invention relates to circuitous elevators, especially circuitouselevators employed in department stores, hotels, office buildings andthe like for passenger service, and it has particular I relation tocontrol system for such elevators,

including means on one or more oi the elevator cars for reversiblycontrolling the movement of the elevator and including means foreffecting a multi circuit electrical connection to all of the T elevatorcars from stationary external points.

. The term circuitous elevator, as employed herein, designates astructure of any type having one or more receptacles, cages or carsmovable in a circuitous or endless path.

A circuitous elevator, employed particularly for passenger service, anda control system for effecting the operation of the elevators from apoint or points outside or the elevator cars or cages, is disclosed inthe copending application "of Henry D. James, Serial No. 414,683, filedDecember 17, 1929, and assigned to the Westinghouse Electric &Manufacturing Company.

Our present invention is an improvement upon the elevator disclosed inthe above-mentioned copending application and, in addition to thestructure and control described therein, comprises a means for eiiectingthe control of a circuitous-elevator driving-motor by control devices onone or more cars and includes a means T for continuously establishing amulti-circuit electrical connection to all the cars, whereby suchcontrol may be effected. Our invention further comprehends theemployment of the means for effecting the electrical connection to thecars as a means for effecting the illumination of the cars from astationar external source of energy, as well as for effecting theconnection or" signal devices, such as telephones, on the cars, tosimilar devices on other cars or at stationary external points.

In our copending application, Serial No. 486,690, filed October 6, 1930,assigned to the Westinghouse Electric 8: Manufacturing Company, we havedescribed and claimed a novel control system for a circuitous elevatorin which an electrical connection is capable of being established to allof the cars or cages, but the electrical connection limited to a singlecon ducting path and employs the metallic structure of the elevator as apart of the return circuit. That is, in our prior invention, only oneconducting path was established to the cars but not a circuit comprisinga forward conductor and a return conductor. The structure which embodiesour present invention possesses an ad vantage over the structuredescribed in the pending application, just mentioned, in that ourpresent structure enables one or more circuits to be continuouslymaintained to each of the cars without employing the metallic structureof the elevator as the part of the electrical circuit and wherebysubstantially constant-resistance electrical paths are obtained whichare completely insulated from the metallic part of the elevatorstructure.

We have described and claimed, in our previously-mentioned copendingapplication, a control lever on each of the cars for controlling thesingle electrical connection established to each of them, whereby alimited control over 70 the movement of the circuitous elevator may beeffected. For example, when a car is positioned in any position otherthan a predetermined one, and the control lever thereon is operated, theactuation of the motor for driving the circuitous 5 elevator isautomatically efiected, whereby the car, on which the control lever isdisposed, is moved to the predetermined position by the shortest routeand is automatically stopped thereat upon its arrival. In other words,in our prior invention, an unlimited control over the operation of theelevator driving motor may not be effected by the control lever on theelevator cars.

In our present invention, the structure which we have devised forestablishing a multi-circuit connect-ion to each of the elevator cars isinherently capable of being employed for the purpose of providing acontrol means on each of them which permits full control over the oper-9O ation of the elevator driving motor. In other words, we have provideda control means on each of the cars, in our present invention, whichpermits the circuitous elevator to be moved optionally in eitherdirection and to any extent, even to that of the cars repeatedlytraversing their circuitous path without stopping.

Obviously, an elevator employed for passenger service must necessarilyhave some source of illumination in the cars, because, otherwise, theywould normally travel a dark hatchway. Pro- 2 ising that, for commercialoperation of circuitous passenger elevators, it is necessary to provideillumination for the cars, it must follow that, in order tosatisfactorily supply energy to the illuminating means in the: cars,there must be provided a stationary source of energy external to themoving system of elevator cars, such as a motor-driven generator, andsome means for effecting a continuous connection be- 110 tween themovable cars and the stationary source.

It is desirable for signalling or testing purposes, or necessary, incases where the circuitous elevator system is stopped with all of thecages between their regular stopping stations, to provide communicationbetween one or more of the elevator cars of a circuitous e1evator and anexternal point, such as the oilice of a superintendent of operations orservice man.

As an illustration, therefore, we have provided. a telephone instrumentin one or more of the elevator cars, and we employ, to good advantage,the device comprising our present invention for continuously maintainingthe connection between the telephone instrument in the elevator car orca to a stationary external point.

In View of the inherent difiiculty in establishing a plurality ofelectrical circuits to the moving cages of a circuitous elevator, andthe undesirable features of the circuit-establishing disclosed in theaforementioned pending application, we have devised a solution, in ourpresent invention, for the problems presented, which enables a continuedelectrical connection between a plzrality of endless trolleys and aplurality of contact points on a cage, the latter being displaced fromthe point of pivotal support of the cage, whereby a plurality ofelectrical circuits, completely insulated from the metallic struct .reof the elevator and not employing it as a part of any circuit, arecontinuously maintained to all of the cars.

It is, therefore, an object of our invention to maintain a continuous,insulated, multi-circuit electrical connection between the movable carsor cages of a circuitous elevator and between the cars and stationaryelements external to the moving system of cages, whereby the practicaloperation of a circuitous elevator, particularly for passenger service,is assured.

Another object of ur invention is to provide an electrical controlsystem for a circuitous elevator, embodying a control means on one ormore of the cages, for reversibly controlling the operation of theelevator and affecting a full control of the elevator in eitherdirection.

Other objects of our invention will be apparent from the followingspecification, when read in connection with the accompanying drawingswherein,

Figure 1 is a partially diagrammatic view, showing a vertical section ofa building having a plurality of superposed floors and a circuitouselevator, embodying our present invention, suitably disposed therein.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged fragmentary side elevational view, showing themeans for efiecting the completion or the electrical circuits withrespect to the moving cages.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary front elevational view, showing aportion of one of the endless chains of a circuitous elevator, embodyingour invention, parts being broken away, to

show the cage-supporting means and a portion of the means for effectingthe electrical connections to the cages.

Fig. 4.-

an enlarged view, corresponding to Fig. 3, showing, with greaterclarity, the means for efiecting the electrical connections to themovable cages.

5 is a fragmentary view, partially in section, taken on the line V-V ofFi l.

Fig. 6 a diagrammatic illustration of the control ci'cuit embodied inthe present invention.

Referring to Fig. 1, we have provided a circuitous elevator comprising aplurality of cages ll movable in a hatchway 12 extending past a.plurality of floors 13 in a building 14. The details of the structure ofthe circuitous elevator, as shown, are immaterial to the application ofour invention thereto; however, for the purpose of rendering ourinvention more readily understandable, each cage 11 is shown as movablysupported in a sling 15 which is pivotally suspended from and between apair of endless flexible member, such as chains 16, each being in theform of a loop and being disposed vertically in spaced parallelrelation. Suitable sprocket wheels or sheaves 17 are provided forsupporting the endless chains at the upper and the lower extremitiesthereof for movement in an endless path, each sprocket wheel beingsuitably supported from the building structure in any suitable manner,such as, for example, by means of a stub shaft 18 rotatably retained inbearings 19 mounted on the building structure.

Suitable guideways 25, stationarily disposed, for engaging thevertically extending portions of the endless chains are provided inorder to maintain the endless chains in fixed vertical paths ofmovement. Referring to Figs. 3, 4 and 5, the guideways are illustratedas comprising angle-bars 26, suitably secured to the walls of thebuilding structure in the hatchway 12, for engaging opposite sides of anendless chain.

The slings or rectangular frames 15 are constructed similarly to theslings usually employed for supporting elevator cars in elevator systemsof the reciprocating type. Suitable trunnion members 27 are secured tothe opposite sides thereof, at the upper corners, for pivotally engagingendless chains in such manner as to take the place of the usual pin orpintle for connecting the links of a chain.

Although not so illustrated in the drawings accompanying our presentinvention, it is, nevertheless, intended that the cars shall be,preferably relatively movable in the supporting slings 15. Any suitablemeans, such as that described and claimed in the above-mentionedcopending application Serial No. 414,683, may be provided for movablysupporting a car in its sling, whereby it can move above or below anormal position and thus adjust its position to the exact level of afloor at which it is stopped.

The number of cars employed in a circuitous elevator is, of course,determined by the number of passengers to be transported, as well as bythe nature of the service to be rendered, either express or local.Therefore, although we have illustrated a circuitous elevator in Fig. las comprising a number of cars equal to twice that of the number offloors in the building, it should be understood that the number of carsis variable.

Any suitable means for driving the circuitous elevator, that is, formoving all of the cars simultaneously, may comprise a driving gearmechanism, including pair of driving 5 rocket wheels 23, disposed forrotation in the plane of one of the endless chains and suitably securedto parallel spaced shafts at the same level to engage, respectively, thever Lcally extending portions of an endless chain. The simultaneousrotation of the sprocket wheels 28 at the same speed and in the samedirection is eiiected by means of an intervening speed-reducing gear 1moved from the pivotal connection of the truning movement of theelevator cars around the mechanism 30, connecting the sprocket wheels toa suitable motive means, such as an electric motor 29, stationarilymounted in a suitable place on the building structure.

Our invention comprises an endless trolley system, including a pluralityof endless conductors or trolleys 31, 32, 33, 34, 35 and 36 (see Figs. 2and 5) suitably secured at intervals by adjustable clamps 3'7 toinsulating members 38 attached to the angle-bars 26 or to the walls ofhatchway 12 by angle brackets 39. The trolleys, which have a contoursimilar to that of the endless chains 16, are disposed externallyadjacent to one of the chains, and in spaced concentric relation to oneanother, in the same plane. They may be also otherwise suitablydisposed, as, for example, in coaxial'spaced relation or be made ofequal or unequal lengths. A modification of the manner of mounting thetrolleys may be employed which consists in embedding the trolleys in acommon, flexible, insulating matrix, or supporting base and suitablysecuring the matrix to the walls of the hatchway.

Each of the elevator cars 11 is provided with a plurality of spacedconcentric rings or annular conductors 41, 42, 4-3, 44, 45 and 46, (seeFigs. 2 and 5) which have, preferably, a crosssectional area similar tothat of the stationary trolleys and are disposed concentrically in thesame plane and secured by clamps 49 to an insulating collar member 4?which is rigidly attach'ed, as by set-screws 48 in the hub thereof, toone of the trunnion members 27, in such manner that each ring on eachcage is in alignment with one corresponding stationary endless trolley.In order to reduce the size of the drawing, only three trolleys andthree rings are shown in Fig. 5.

The potential to be impressed on the trolleys is preferably of low orderfor the purpose of allowing the rings and trolleys to be closely spacedand thus reduce the total space required thereby.

The rings are secured to the insulating collar 47 in spaced relation,with respect to the trolleys, such that an insulating arm 50, having aplurality of pairs of resilient, electrically-connected and conductingcontact-fingers 51 and 52 thereon, is interposed therebetween to causethe contact-fingers of each pair to individually effect a slidingcontact between the concentric rings on a cage and the correspondingstationary endless trolleys.

One contact-finger arm 50 is provided for each of the elevator cars andit is rigidly secured to one of the links, comprising the endless chain,adjacent to the stationary trolleys, on the intericr side thereof, and ashort distance renion member 27 of the associated elevator car, with theendless chain.

Thus, when relative movement of an elevator car and the endless chainsoccurs, such as durupper and lower sprocket wheels 1'7, a continuouselectrical connection is maintained between the stationary trolleys andthe concentric rings on the elevator cars, the contact-finger arm 50effecting this result for all the relative positions between a car andthe endless chains. This fact is clearly shown in Fig. 2, where thecontact-' finger arm 50 is on the right side of the concentric rings inone position of the elevator car, and

on the left side of the concentric rings in another position of the car.

Referring to Fig. 6, a specific embodiment of a control system forcontrolling and operating a circuitous elevator, by employing theportion of our invention just described, is illustrated. It comprisesbriefly, a clockwise-direction relay 55 and a counter-clockwisedirection relay 56 for controlling the actuation of the driving motor29, the relays being selectively energizable by means of a reversingcontrol switch 57 on one or more of the elevator cars.

The control switch 5'? is preferably of a well known double-throw typefor establishing one circuit when moved to a position on one side of aneutral position and another circuit when moved to the'opposite side ofthe neutral position. A contact member 58, engageable by a contactmember on a control lever 57 when the latter is moved to one side of itsneutral posi tion, is provided on the switch 5"], and is connected, byan electrical conductor, either flexible or rigid, to the ring 42 on thecorresponding car. A similar contact member 59 on the opposite side ofthe neutral position of the control lever 57' is similarly connected tothe ring 43 on the corresponding car. One terminal of the coil of relay55 is permanently connected to the endless trolley 32, and acorresponding terminal of the coil of relay 58 is permanently connectedto the endless trolley 33.

The contact member of the control lever 5'? is connected to the ring 41,and the trolley 31 is permanently connected to one supply conductor L1of a source of potential.

Thus, by causing the contact member of the control lever to engagecontact member 58, relay 55 is energized to cause the motor 29 to beactuated to move the elevator in a clockwise direction; and, by somoving the control lever that the contact member thereof engages thecontact member 59, the relay 56 is energized to cause the motor to beactuated to rotate in a direction to move the elevator in acounterclockwise direction.

An emergency-stop push-button switch 60, of well known construction, isprovided in the circuit connecting the control lever 57' to the ring 41in order that the circuit may be interrupted at any time to effect theimmediate stopping or the elevator.

The cooperation of the reversible controller and the emergency switchrenders the operation of a circuitous elevator possible to remove anyjamming obstruction that may stop the elevator.

way door at each floor, each being operable, by

its associated door, to a closed position, when the door is completelyclosed. All or the door switches 61 are connected in series in thecircuits for energizing the coils of the relays 55 and 56 and thusprevent the actuation of the relays when any hatchway door is notcompletely closed.

A lamp 62 is provided for each of the cars and is secured, preferably,to the ceiling thereof.

The electrical connections from an external stationary source ofpotential L1, L2 to the lamp, are made by means of the trolleys 31 and34 and the rings 41 and 44 on the associated car. A switch 63 isprovided on each car for interrupting the connections to the lamp 2 onthe same car and, when the switch is closed, the lamp is continuouslyilluminated, regardless of the position of the elevator car or its rateof movement.

A telephone instrument 64 is provided on one or more of the cars and theelectrical connections thereto from stationary outside elements,including a battery or source of electrical energy 83, are made throughthe trolleys 35 and 36 and the rings 45 and 46. Thus, audiblecommunication between any car and a stationary outside source or betweenany car and another or all of the other cars is rendered possible.

Further details of our invention and its operation are best understoodby an assumed operation. It should be understood. that we contemplatethe operation of the elevator by an automatic control system, in themanner described in the above-mentioned copending application #414,683,and employ our control system, illus trated in Fig. 6 of the presentapplication, in conjunction therewith. Cur present invention, in eiiect,thus constitutes an optional method of control when it is desired tounrestrictedly control the speed and movement of an elevator duringinstallation or testing operations, or when the levelling means fails tofunction and it is necessary to level the elevator cars with the floorsat which they are substantially stopped.

For the purpose of better understanding the nature of our invention, letit be assumed that the control lever 57, on a car switch 57 of one ofthe cars, is moved so that its contact member engages the contact member59. The operation of the switch 57, in this manner, closes a cir--- cultfor energizing the coil of counter clo kwise relay 56 which circuitextends from supply conductor L1, through conductor 78, trolley 31, contact fingers 51 and 52, ring 41, conductor 71, emergency-stop switch 60,conductor 72, control lever 57 and its contact member 09, conductor 73,ring 43, contact fingers 52 and 51, trolley 33, conductor 74, coil ofrelay 56, conductor 75, normally-closed contact members 3 of clockwiserelay 55, conductors 76 and 77, all of the doorinterlock switches 61, inseries and conductor 78, to supply conductor L2.

Thus, although the operator moves the control lever 57 to an operativeposition, the elevator will not move until all the passengers are safelyin or safely out of all of the elevator cars. It is understood thatprovision must be made in the door-operating mechanism to prevent apremature closing of cage and hatchway doors, whereby injury to personsentering or leavinr elevator car, having no operator therein, mayresult. Any well known door-operating mechanism, such as is employed inreciprocating elevator installations, fulfills the necessaryrequirements to r nder the operation of the elevator by one operator,stationed in one of the cars, completely safe for passengers.

The normally open contact members a, b, c, and d of relay 56 are closed,and the normally-- closed contact members e of the same relay are openedwhen the coil of the relay is energized.

The opening of the contact members e opens a circuit for energizing thecoil of clockwise relay 55, and, therefore, prevents the simultaneousenergization of the two direction relays 55 and 56.

The closing of contact members a closes a circuit for energizing thecoil 65 of a brake 66, of a well known construction, associated with thedriving motor 29. The circuit extends from supply conductor L1, throughconductor 75, coil 65, conductors and 81, contact members a of relay 56and conductor 82, to supply conductor L2. The energization of the coil65 releases the shoe of the brake 65 from its frictional engagement withthe drum of the brake, against the force of a spring, and the motor 29is thus freed for rotation upon energization thereof as a result of theclosing of the contact members b, c and d of the relay switch.

The contact members I), c, and cl of relay 56 connect the outsideterminals of the phase windings X, Y and Z, of the motor 29, to thealternating-current supply conductors AC2, AC3 and AC1, respectively. Itis earned unnecessary to trace these connections in detail because theyare sufficiently obvious in Fig. 6.

Although we have not illustrated any means for gradually accelerating ordecelerating the motor 29, it should be understood that any of the wellknown means employed in motor-control systems for efiecting theseresults may be employed.

The extent of movement of the elevator is determined by the operatorand, when he desires to stop the elevator in any position, he returnsthe control lever 57 to its neutral position at the proper time or, inthe event that he desires to open the control circuits immediately, asan emergency, he may open the emergency switch 60.

Let it be further assumed that the control lever is moved to the reverseside of its neutral position so that the contact member thereon engagesthe contact member 58 on the switch 57. This operation closes a circuitfor energizing the coil of relay 55; which circuit extends from supplyconductor L1 to the control lever 5'7, as previously traced, thence byway of contact member 58, conductor 85, ring 42, contact finger 52 and51, trolley 82, conductor 86, coils of relay 55, conductor 87, normallyclosed contact members e of relay 56, conductor '77, through all of thedoor interlock switches 61, in series, and conductor 78, to supplyconductor L2.

The actuation of relay 55 causes its normallyopen contact members a, b,c, and d, to close, and its normally-closed contact members 0 to open.

The opening of the contact members 6 of relay 55 prevents theenergization of the coil of relay 56 simultaneously with that of relay55.

The closing of contact members a of relay 55, being connected inparallel with contact members a; of relay 56, effects the energizationof the coil 65 of the brake 66 to free the motor 29 for rotation. Therotation of motor 29 to move the elevator cars in a clockwise directionis effected upon the energization of the threephase windings X, Y and Zby having their outer terminals connected to the alternatingcurrentsupply conductors AC3, AC2 and AC1 through contact members I), c, and(1, respectively, of relay 55.

Each of the incandescent lamps 62 on the elevator cars is connected to astationary source of energy, comprising supply conductors L1 and L2, bya circuit extending from supply con- 7 least one electrical circuitbetween each said review-2 ductor L1 to the ring 41, as previouslytraced, thence by conductor 84 to the incandescent lamp, throughconductor 39, switch 63, which maybe of any suitable type andconveniently located on the car, conductor 90, ring as, contact fingers52 and 51, trolley 34, and conductor 91, to supply conductor L2. lhus,as long as the switch 63 on the corresponding car is closed, theincandescent lamp 62 on the car will be continuously illuminated from anexternal stationary source.

There being two conductors required for the circuit to the telephoneinstrument or on one or more cars, the two outside rings 45 and 46 areemployed to effect the connection of the conductors to trolleys 85 andrespectively, to which are connected respectively, other conductors bywhich the circuit is extended to any outside source of supply 83,telephone, annunciator or other signal device. Obviously, switces of anysuitable type may be substituted for the telephone instrument to effectthe illumination of signal lamps external to the moving system ofelevator cars. Also, signal lamps may 1 be disposed in the elevator carswhich are illuminated upon the operation of switches or othercircuit-closing devices external to the moving system of elevator cars.

The terminals or" the source of supply 83 are ermanently connectedacross the trolleys 35 and 36 and thus a common source of energy,whereby communication between a car and any other car or cars may beeffected.

It should, therefore, be clear that the prac tical commercial operationor circuitous e1evators for passenger service is assured by employourpresent invention. It should also be clear that we have provided deviceof novel structure for effecting a multi-circuit electrical connectionbetween the cars of a circuitous elevator, andto the cars from astationary external source whereby the movement of all the cars may befully and reversibly controlled, whereby energy for an illuminatingmeans in each of the cars is supplied from a stationary external sourceand whereby communication between a car and a stationary point, orbetween cars, is effected.

Although we have illustrated only one embodiment of our invention, it isto be understood, that it is capable of various modifications withoutdeparting from the spirit thereof. It is desired, therefore, that nolimitations shall be imposed thereon except as imposed by the I priorart and set forth in the appended claims.

We claim as our invention:

1. In a circuitous elevator, a plurality of cars movable in an endlesspath, stationary elements, and means for continuously maintaining atleast one electrical circuit between each of said cars and saidstationary elements, said means comprising a plurality of concentricrings on each car, a corresponding number or" stationary paral lelendless trolleys, and movable connect means for slidably engagingcorresponding rings and trolleys.

2. In a circuitous elevator, a plurality of cars movable in an endlesspath, stationary elements, means for continuously maintaining at carsand said stationary elem nts, said means comprising a plurality ofconcentric rin s on each car, a corresponding number of stationaryendless trolleys, and means, for each car, movable in accordance withthe movement of all of cars, for slidably engaging and connecting saidtrolleys and corresponding rings on the cars.

3. In a circuitous elevator, a pair of endless flexible members disposedvertically in spaced lel planes, means supporting said endless membersfor movement in similar endless paths, a plurality of cars pivotallysuspended at intervals from and between said endless flexible members,stationary elements, and means for continuously maintaining at least oneelectrical circut between each of said cars and said stah elements, saidmeans comprising a plura of stationary endless trolleys, a plurality oiconcentric rings on each car, and means for car, cured to one of saidendless flexible members in associated relation to its correspondin carfor slidably engaging and coni cting a d trolleys and the correspondingrings on the cars.

t. In a circuitous elevator, a plurality of cars movable in and endlesspath, stationary elements, means for continuously maintaining at leastone electrical circuit between each of said and said stationaryelements, said means comprising a plurality of concentric rings on eachcar, said rings being disposed in a vertical plane, a correspondingnumber of stationary endless trolleys, and means for each movable inaccordance with the movement of all of said cars, for slidably engagingand connecting said trolleys and corresponding rings on the cars.

5. a cir uitous elevator, a plurality of cars movable in an endlesspath, stationary elements, means for continuously maintaining at leastone electrical circuit between each of said cars and said stationaryelements, said means comprising a plurality of spaced concentric ringson each car, a corresponding number of stationary, spaced, endlesstrolleys disposed in a vertical plane, and means for each car, movablein accordance with the movement of all of said cars, for slidablyengaging and connecting said trolleys and corresponding rings on thecars.

6. In a circuitous elevator, a plurality of cars movable in an endlesspath, stationary elements, means for continuously maintaining at leastone electrical circuit between each of said cars and said stationaryelements, said means comprising a plurality of spaced concentric ringson each car, a corresponding number of spaced endless trolleys, saidrings and said trolleys being disposed respectively in two spacedvertical planes, one ring on each car being in alignment with acorresponding one of said trolleys, and means for each car, movable inaccordance with the movement of all of said cars, for slidably engagingand connecting said trolleys and corresponding rings on the cars.

7. In a circuitous elevator, a pair of endless chains, verticallydisposed in spaced parallel relation, a plurality of cars, trunnionmembers for pivotally suspending said cars from and between said endlesschains, stationary elements, means for continuously maintaining at leastone electrical circuit between each of said cars and said stationaryelements, said means comprising a plurality of spaced rings on each ofsaid cars, disposed concentrically with respect to one of the trunnionmembers for each car, a corresponding number of stationary endlesstrolleys, and means for each car, movable in accordance with themovement of all of said cars, for slidably engaging and connecting saidtrolleys and their corresponding rings on the cars.

8. In a circuitous elevator, a pair of endless chains verticallydisposed in spaced parallel relation, a plurality of cars pivotallysuspended from and between said endless chains, stationary elements,means for continuously maintaining at least one electrical circuitbetween each of said cars and said stationary elements, said meanscomprising a plurality of spaced concentric rings on each of said cars,a corresponding number of endless trolleys externally parallel withrespect to said endless chains, and means for each car attached to oneof said endless chains and disposed for slidably engaging and connectingtrolleys and rings on the corresponding car.

9. In a circuitous elevator, a plurality of cars movable in an endlesspath, motive means for moving said cars, means on at least one of saidcars for reversibly controlling the movement of said cars, stationarycontrol means actuable in response to the operation of any one of saidreversible control means on the cars for effecting the energization ofsaid motive means, and means for continuously maintaining a connectionbetween said control means on the cars and said stationary controlmeans, said connecting means comprising a plurality of concentric ringson each car, a corresponding number of stationary trolleys, and movablemeans for slidably engaging and connecting the rings and theircorresponding trolleys.

18.111 a circuitous elevator, a plurality of cars movable in an endlesspath, stationary elements, and means for continuously maintaining atleast one electrical circuit between at least one of cars and saidstationary elements, said means comprisin a plurality of endlessconducting strips disposed parallel and adjacent to the path of movementof said cars and parallel to each other, a plurality of conducting meanscorresponding in number to the number of said endless conducting stripsand disposed to move with said car in a plane parallel to the plane ofsaid strips, and means movable with said car for maintaining anelectrical connection between corresponding conducting strips andconducting means throughout the path of travel of said car.

11. In a circuitous elevator, a plurality of cars movable in an endlesspath, stationary elements, and means for continuously maintaining atleast one electrical circuit between at least one of said cars and saidstationary elements, said means comprising a plurality of endlessconducting strips disposed parallel and adjacent to the path of movementof said cars and parallel to each other, a plurality of conducting meanscorresponding in number to the number of said endless conducting stripsand disposed to move with said car in a plane parallel to the plane ofsaid strips, and means movable with said car and relative to saidconducting means for maintaining an electrical connection betweencorresponding conducting strips and conducting means throughout the pathof travel of said car.

12. In a circuitous elevator, a plurality of cars movable in an endlesspath, a plurality of stationary conducting elements disposed adja centto the path, a plurality of conducting ele ments disposed to move withthe car, and means for electrically connecting said first namedconducting elements, and said second named conducting elements, saidconnecting means being movable with the car and movable relative to saidfirst named conducting elements and to said second named elements forcontinuously maintaining electrical connection between the car and thestationary conducting elements.

HENRY D. JAMES. HAROLD E. WHITE.

